Monday, April 15, 2013
#NSBACONF - National Best Practices STEM Curriculum to Improve STEM Literacy
National School Board Association Conference 2013 - San Diego
The practices, strategies and programming utilized within The STEM Academy (K–16 Program) were developed from identified national best practices by the National Academy of Engineering and National Science Foundation. The curriculum features dual-credit agreements with over 180+ post-secondary institutions. Instructors may earn up to nine graduate school credits through the STEM 101 professional development program.
HANDOUTS
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#NSBACONF - One Voice, One Plan — Improving Results for All Students
National School Board Association Conference 2013 - San Diego
In an unprecedented move, the 12 districts in the Ingham Intermediate School District (enr. 44,541) service area made a long-term commitment to ensure each student reaches their maximum potential. Three years ago, these 12 joined forces to change the way they provided curriculum, instruction, and assessment with a focus on prevention and intervention. The boards of education and superintendents agreed to create a countywide multi-tiered system of support instead of each district operating independently. Just look at the successful data!
PRESENTATION
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Jennifer Abell
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#NSBACONF - Getting It Right From the Start: Building and Maintaining a Successful School Board/Superintendent Partnership
National School Board Association Conference 2013 - San Diego
Learning about the process one school board undertook in gathering information about the characteristics sought for the new superintendent, about the hiring process, and how a successful partnership was formed with a new superintendent. Williamsburg-James City County (enr. 10,254) is sharing specific information and materials about the development of the school board's "Standard Operating Procedures," retreats focused on building and maintaining a strong partnership, and changes to the operation that have solidified a winning school board-superintendent team.
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America's Most Challenging High Schools
According to the Challenge Index Scores as ranked by the Wasington Post's Jay Mathews .
About the challenge HERE.
DC LOCAL LISTS
I'll summarize for our Charles County High Schools.
For the complete local list click HERE.
RANK SCHOOL
78 LaPlata
114 Westlake
119 North Point
123 Lackey
139 Thomas Stone
144 McDonough
National Ranking HERE
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Jennifer Abell
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Bush, Obama focus on standardized testing leads to ‘opt-out’ parents’ movement
The Washington Post
Lyndsey Layton
April 14, 2013
A decade into the school accountability movement, pockets of resistance to standardized testing are sprouting up around the country, with parents and students opting out of the high-stakes tests used to evaluate schools and teachers.
From Seattle, where 600 high school students refused to take a standardized test in January, to Texas, where 86 percent of school districts say the tests are “strangling our public schools,” anti-testing groups argue that bubble exams have proliferated beyond reason, delivering more angst than benefits.
“Over the last couple of years, they’ve turned this one test into the all and everything,” said Cindy Hamilton, a 50-year-old mother of three in Florida who founded Opt Out Orlando in response to the annual Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, which starts again Monday. Her group is one of dozens of new organizations opposed to such testing.
The opt-out movement is nascent but growing, propelled by parents, students and some educators using social media to swap tips on ways to spurn the tests. They argue that the exams cause stress for young children, narrow classroom curricula, and, in the worst scenarios, have led to cheating because of the stakes involved — teacher compensation and job security.
READ MORE HERE
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Sunday, April 14, 2013
#NSBACONF - Engage Your Community and Generate Funds Through Your Foundation
National School Board Association Conference - San Diego
With school funding poor and getting worse, building the capacity of an educational foundation can have wide-ranging benefits, from passing referenda to raising funds. Learning how District 125 Adlai E. Stevenson High School (enr. 4,000) used a strong foundation to leverage community relationships and partnerships, and foster a sense of engagement and ownership in the district by the community. Topics include governance, best practices, hiring a director, board and organizational development, strategic planning, community engagement, and alumni relations.
HANDOUTS
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#NSBACONF - Teachers Matter: How One School Division Builds Relationships Between and Among Its Teachers
National School Board Association Conference - SAn Diego
Chinook's Edge School Division (enr. 10,781) will share what has been a very successful process in their division entitled the Teachers Matter committee. The title validates the critically important role teachers play in achieving the mission and vision for their school division, hence the title, "Teachers Matter." The committee is comprised of more than thirty teachers who represent every school in the division, and their role is to participate at the committee gatherings, and communicate back with respective school staffs.
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#NSBACONF - Keeping our Students and Staff Safe
National School Board Association Conference - San Diego
School safety must be a community focused effort. This requires the collaboration of federal, state, and local policymakers, those who govern and administer schools as well as law enforcement, and other emergency responders in planning and preparedness. The Missouri Center for Education Safety is a unique, public-private partnership of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, the Missouri Office of Homeland Security, and the Missouri School Boards' Association. The CES provides professional expertise and serves as a clearinghouse of resources designed to support local school districts in their efforts to ensure schools remain the safest places for their children.
(More to come)
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#NSBACONF - Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson
National School Board Association Conference 2013 - San Diego
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#NSBACONF - BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) in the Classroom and Beyond
National Schol Board Association Conference 2013 - San Diego
Today's generation of students have been born into, and are growing up, surrounded by mobile devices. Prince William County Public Schools (enr. 83,551) has embraced the mobile device movement by implementing Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). Learning how to implement BYOD in our school district and how to avoid some of the potential pitfalls.
HANDOUTS
(didn't we just have this discussion at the last board meeting?)
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Saturday, April 13, 2013
#NSBACONF - Saving Money by Renovating Existing buildings to Support 21st Century Learning
National School Board Association Conference 2013 - San Diego
Times have changed and so has education, but school budgets are tighter than ever. Kids are learning differently. Technology has changed. 21st century learning is collaborative, flexible, adaptable, tech driven, and sustainable, and we are able to learn anywhere, anytime. Discovering the attributes of 21st century learning and seeing how they can work within an existing space, making the most of tight budgets and meeting changing needs for years to come.
HANDOUTS
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Jennifer Abell
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Labels Facilities and Land, National Education News, New Schools; Redistricting, Technology
#NSBACONF - Disappearing Ink: Moving from Textbooks to Digital Content
National School Board Association Conference 2013 - San Diego
Practical implementations have replaced theoretical conversations about the shift from print books to digital content. Imagine a high school without traditional textbooks for the past nine years; statewide collaboration to create a digital physics book by Virginia scholars; and a non-profit organization with the goal of reducing textbook costs through the OER (Open Education Resource) movement across all curriculum areas with "flexbooks."
(More to come)
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#NSBACONF - Linking Compensation to Student Growth
National School Board Association Conference 2013 - San Diego
Panel discussion on enhanced compensation for staff members at the bargaining table. Panel offering insights into the unprecedented agreement reached between the administration, teachers and support staff in Schaumburg Community Consolidated School District 54 (enr. 13,955) to enhance compensation based on rigorous student growth. Learnng about how educational reform is taking place in this large suburban school district responsible for educating pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students in 27 schools.
HANDOUTS
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#NSBACONF - Blended Learning Makes Sense - For You - Now
National School Board Association Conference 2013 - San Diego
It can be tough to make the decision to offer studemts an online learning option. How do you choose between the learning environment student's want and the rigor, engagement and teacher interaction we all crave? We don't have to choose! Blend! Blended learning offers a solution that can deliver the student the success we all want.
(More to come)
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Jennifer Abell
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#NSBACONF - Geena Davis - Spring into Action with a Little Inspiration
December 4, 2012: Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media receives Google Global Impact Award.
February 19, 2013: Geena Davis talks with American School Board Journal Senior Editor Lawrence Hardy.
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#NSBACONF - NSBA's 1st Annual Technology Innovation Showcase
National School Board Association Conference 2013 - San Diego
This session is introducing new approaches to old problems from emerging companies identified by NSBA's Technology Leadership Network. Each company will has only five minutes to tell what they are solving and give a snapshot of their solution. Great interactive session designed for those who embrace technology and innovation. :)
(More to come)
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#NSBACONF - Digital Conversion for Student Achievement
Nationl School Board Association Conference 2013 - San Diego
Five years ago, the Mooresville Graded School District implemented a six-year strategic plan with the philosophy that public education should be about every child , every day. At the heart of this plan was the Digital Conversion utilizing 21st Century resources in all classrooms with a focus on academic achievement, engagement, opportunity and equity. Mark Edwards, recently voted Superintendent of the Year by the Amercan Association of School Administrators, is sharing his districts story along with the data outlining the phenomenal results that show that his district is realizing its motto of Every Child, Every Day.
(Handout link to be added later)
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Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 4/9/2013
The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, April 9 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.
The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.
Executive session – 12 p.m.
Correspondence/Board Member updates
- Pedersen--Gwynn Center Ribbon Cutting, MESA, Senior Citizens Prom
- Bowie--Gwynn Center Ribbon Cutting, Thanks for patronizing the library, Westlake Student Recognition, Parent - Thank you for Principal Holstein at Barnhart, Parent - impressed with McDonough, Bus Driver - invite new Supt and Board Members to ride
- Abell--APFO Subcommittee Public Forum tomorrow night at Stone at 6:30, Gwynn Center Ribbon Cutting, C.C. Early Childhood Advisory Council
- Lukas--Senior Citizens Prom, History Fair, Science Fair, Dr. Mudd History Night, Regional Destination Imagination Night
- Wise--Lackey Career Fair, Stone / McDonough Military Ball
- HB1168 - PASSED-Minority Teacher Recruitment Reporting
- HB667 - PASSED - Representation Fee $$
- HB207- PASSED-Chronically Absent Students
- HB331 - PASSED - Open Meeting Act Violations
- HB139 - PASSED - Open Meeting Act Trainings
- HB1107 - PASSED - PG adds members to BOE, direct appt of Supt by County Exec, etc.
- SB 740 - PASSED - College Ready Assessment
- HB 1161 - PASSED - Commission Special Education Improve Service
- HB 1286 - PASSED - Similar
- HB 860/SB 743 - PASSED - School Construction Baltimore City
- HB103/SB243 - PASSED - Solar Technology
- HB229/SB277 - PASSED - Net Taxable Income Bill
- SB143 - PASSED - Evaluations Emergency Management Plan
- HB453 - PASSED - Maryland Center for school Safety Resources - Bowie State
- HB396/SB1092 - PASSED - Computer Harassment
- HB269 - DID NOT PASS - School Safety - Will provide $$ to school safety
- Sorry, very passionate discussion from students and board members....I believe the final consensus was for it to come back next month after consulting with principals on after-school guidelines.
- Approval of new superintendent
- Abell- My vote is not a lack of confidence in Ms. Hill’s ability to perform the duties of Superintendent. On the contrary, we had three very highly qualified and capable candidates and while Ms. Hill was not my top choice, she is very qualified, capable, and will have my full support in leading and guiding Charles County Public Schools. My practice has always been to cast the same vote in public as I do in private so the public knows exactly where I stand and my position. I look forward to working with Mrs. Hill and moving Charles County Public Schools forward.
- Approval of new superintendent contract
- Lukas - during these tight budetary times, I don't agree with some of the benefits afforded in the contract.
Future agenda items - none
- Students - De'ja Brown, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, Indian Head Elementary School, Principal: Toni Melton-Trainor; Kiersten Walker, 5th grade, Personal Responsibility, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School, Principal: Kristen Shields; Aisac Accad, 8th grade, Career Readiness, Theodore G. Davis Middle School, Principal: Wendell Martin; Alyssa Kepner, 12th grade, Academic Achievement, Westlake High School, Principal: Chrystal Benson
- Employees - Shayna Pounds, fourth grade teacher, Indian Head; Lisa Sweeney, technology facilitator, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy; Mildred Alexander-Moses, school counselor, Davis; Holly Dolan, resource, Westlake
- Resolutions:Teacher Appreciation Week - Accepting: Paige Baker, special education teacher, Dr. Thomas Higdon Elementary School; Administrative Professionals' Week - Accepting: ;School Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week - Accepting: Crystal Sopher, Supervisor of Food Services; Michael Clarry, Food Service Field Operations Manager; National Physical Education and Sport Week - Accepting: Bradley Jones, physical education teacher, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School; Diana Gyuras, physical education teacher, J.C. Parks Elementary School; and Chris Brown, physical education teacher, Matthew Henson Middle School
- Elridge Proctor - James & Jessica children in attendance; Davis MS, got to stay there during last year's redistricting. Husband got deployed and never would have been able to do it otherwise. Natural disasters and accidents and emergencies should be considered about distance from homes. Consideration for Plan B.
- Lourdes Saigon - Also thanks for leaving him at Davis MS. Wants to continue to stay there. Plan B.
- Dawn Sutherland - Mother of 5. Support Plan B. Dismay in redistricting again. Continued housing development. Do not allocate any more school seats.
- Minutes
- Personnel
- 2014-15 calendar
- Revision of student transfer rule #5126
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Kimberly Hill named next Superintendent of Charles County Public Schools
Kimberly Hill, principal of North Point High School, will be the next superintendent of Charles County Public Schools. The Board of Education of Charles County at its meeting today agreed to the appointment of Hill and a four-year contract with an annual salary of $200,000.
Hill's term as Superintendent begins July 1, and follows that of longtime Superintendent James E. Richmond, who is leaving at the end of the 2012-13 school year after 17 years at the helm and 47 years with Charles County Public Schools.
About Kimberly HillHill, 50, is a lifelong educator with 27 years experience as a teacher, vice principal and principal. She is a product of Charles County Public Schools, having graduated from Maurice J. McDonough High School in Pomfret where she also began her career as a social studies teacher in 1986. She then moved to administrative positions in Charles County as a vice-principal and principal at the high school level. Hill is the 2013 Principal of the Year for Charles County Public Schools and the recipient of the Washington Post's 2013 Distinguished Educational Leadership Award.
Hill currently serves as the principal of North Point High School in Waldorf. As the leader of the district's largest high school, Ms. Hill's focus is on high expectations for student achievement and the significance of each teacher's ability to "be the difference" in a student's life. North Point High School students have attained the highest graduation rate, the highest grade-point average and the highest attendance rate in the district. She says she strongly believes in the power of relationships based on honesty, transparency and trust. These core values drive her decision-making and empower others to engage in the vision of the organization, Hill said.
Hill earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from High Point University in North Carolina and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Her research interests center around teacher effectiveness and the principal's role in the teacher evaluation process.
The Superintendent SearchBoard Chairman, Roberta Wise said, "Kim Hill is a talented educator who will work for all of Charles County's students. Charles County has made tremendous progress during the past 17 years, and Kim Hill is the right person to make our school system even stronger. She has an exceptional background in developing partnerships with the community and businesses, and she has a proven record of promoting academic achievement and excellence for all children. We looked nationwide for the candidate who can best take Charles County Public Schools to the next level, and we are delighted that Mrs. Hill has accepted the position."
Wise said selecting the superintendent is the single most important Board responsibility. During its national search, the Board focused on selecting an innovative, energetic and visionary candidate who will lead a high achieving school system by implementing strategies to promote continued academic growth. The Board was looking for a superintendent who will be a passionate advocate of children and who will work with the community to improve student achievement while embracing technology and working to narrow the achievement gap. Based on input from community forums held in October, the Board also looked for a candidate who understands the challenges of a growing rural/suburban and economically and culturally diverse school system. Mrs. Hill has the principles and skills that best meet the goals the Board hopes to achieve," Wise said.
Five goalsHill, along with two other finalists, recently met with focus groups ranging from students to principals to community and business leaders. During that time, Charles County's next superintendent shared the framework of a 90-day plan focusing on five goals: unsurpassed student achievement; positive, student-centered district culture; investment in stakeholder trust; optimizing effectiveness and efficiency; and trust and collaboration with Board members. For each goal, Hill outlined action steps for improvements. "It is important for us to celebrate our successes while constantly looking for ways to build upon them," Hill wrote. "This 90-day action plan provides an outline for where we can begin."
Hill said she plans to concentrate efforts to ensure students graduate high school prepared for success in college or in a career, and will analyze student achievement data to understand patterns and gaps as well as align curriculum to Common Core standards and implement it uniformly across schools.
Additionally, Hill says starting the first day in July she will meet with principals, parents, community leaders and others to build stakeholder trust and confidence and to nurture relationships that put children first.
"We face tremendous challenges as we implement the educational reforms that are taking place in our state. Among these are implementing the Common Core State Standards, adding student growth measures to our teacher and principal evaluation systems, and implementing new assessments under the Partnership for Readiness for College and Careers... As we face these significant challenges, we must rely on our greatest asset – our people... I am committed to the strength of our people and their ability to be the difference in the life of a child," Hill wrote in her 90-day plan.
Community focus groupsWise thanked employees and the community for support during the superintendent search. The Board conducted a search process with the help of consultants from the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE). The process involved the community in October through a series of five open public forums to gather input from staff, students and the community about what characteristics the public thought the Board should look for in a superintendent and what challenges the public believes the new superintendent will face. Public comments were used to develop the criteria used to assess candidate qualifications. In March, the Board announced three finalists for the position, and each candidate met with various staff, student and community groups. The Board combined and considered comments from the groups while making its hiring decision.
"I want to thank everyone who participated in the initial forums and those who served on the focus groups. Their feedback made our work as a Board easier as we learned what the public feels the experience, skills and abilities of the next superintendent need to be in order to build upon the successes of the past 17 years while moving forward to meet our school system's challenges and opportunities", Wise said.
Reception for Mrs. HillThe Board of Education invites members of the community to meet Hill at a meet-and-greet reception 4-6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 29, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata.
Maryland law requires Boards of Education to award a four-year contract, and the new superintendent's term begins July 1, 2013 and ends June 30, 2017.
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Thursday, April 04, 2013
High School Redistricting Proposals
Redistricting committee members plan to present two possible high school redistricting proposals to the Board of Education, 3 p.m., April 9 during the Board's monthly meeting at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata. The public may comment on the proposals at one of two public hearings, scheduled for April 22 and April 23.
The 16-member redistricting committee developed two rezoning alternatives for each high school in order to develop an attendance zone for St. Charles High School, which opens in August 2014, and to reduce overcrowding at the other county high schools. Superintendent James E. Richmond asked the committee to give due consideration of anticipated growth while reducing student enrollment at each high school to at or below state-rated capacity. Three county high schools, North Point, La Plata and Westlake, are over state-rated capacity.
Both proposals allow for growth at St. Charles, according to the committee report. Proposal A transfers more students than Proposal B, moving 1,398 ninth and tenth graders in A versus 1,233 in B. Proposal A offers the most immediate relief to North Point High School, the county's most overcrowded high school. The Board is completing redistricting a year in advance, and it does not take effect until August 2014 when St. Charles opens. Click Here, for more complete descriptions of the alternatives and maps.
St. Charles High School
St. Charles High School is under construction and will open in August 2014 with grades 9, 10 and 11. It will include a senior class in school year 2015. Located on Piney Church Road in Waldorf and next to Regency Furniture Stadium, the committee is proposing creating an attendance zone for the new school by moving portions of the existing La Plata, Maurice J. McDonough and Thomas Stone high school zones. State-rated capacity is 1,600, and both proposals allow for future growth.
Proposal A would open St. Charles with 963 students in grades 9 through 11, with 651 students transferring in from other high schools. The student population would increase to 1,275 students in 2015 with the addition of a senior class.
Proposal B opens the school with 956 students, with 648 transferring in from other schools. The student population increases to 1,262 the next year.
Henry E. Lackey High School
Henry E. Lackey High School is located in Marbury and could see a decrease in enrollment due to redistricting. Proposals A and B both move areas of the Lackey attendance zone to Maurice J. McDonough High School. Both proposals decrease the student enrollment to 1,104 in 2014.
La Plata High School
La Plata High School is located on Radio Station Road in La Plata and is over its state-rated capacity of 1,162. Both proposals reduce the attendance zone by moving areas to St. Charles High School. Proposal A decreases La Plata's student enrollment to 1,184 in 2014 and proposal B would reduce enrollment to 1,194. The school enrollment would be at or below state-rated capacity in the 2015 school year.
Maurice J. McDonough High School
McDonough is located in Pomfret with a 1,200 state-rated capacity. Redistricting proposals create a new attendance zone for McDonough by including areas from Lackey, North Point and Westlake high schools. The proposals also move students from McDonough to the new high school. Proposal A would decrease student enrollment by 4 percent to 1,081 and Proposal B would reduce student population by 14 percent to 969 students.
North Point High School
Located off Davis Road in Waldorf, North Point is at 141 percent of its 1,600 state-rated capacity with 2,240 students. Both plans immediately reduce overcrowding by moving attendance areas from North Point to Westlake and McDonough high schools. Proposal A reduces enrollment to 1,772 in the first year and to 1,462 in 2015. Proposal B would decrease enrollment 19 percent to 1,832 in 2014 and to 1,602 in 2015. Students accepted in the Science, Technology and Industry programs are not included in the redistricting.
Thomas Stone High School
Located in Waldorf off Leonardtown Road, Thomas Stone's student enrollment is under its state-rated capacity of 1,513. Proposal A would increase student enrollment, while Proposal B decreases the number of students. Both proposals move students from Thomas Stone to St. Charles and students from Westlake zones to Thomas Stone. Proposal A would increase the student enrollment to 1,360 students, while Proposal B would decrease enrollment to 1,307 students.
Westlake High School
Westlake is located on Middletown Road near the intersection of Smallwood Drive in Waldorf, and is over its state-rated capacity of 1,203. Both proposals reduce student enrollment; however, the school population does not decrease to state-rated capacity or below until the second year. The new attendance zone, in both proposals, would include areas from North Point and move areas to Thomas Stone and McDonough.
Proposal A decreases enrollment by 11 percent to 1,269 students in 2014 and to 1,127 students in 2015. Proposal B transfers less students and reduces student enrollment by 7 percent to 1,331 in 2014 and to 1,200 in 2015.
How to comment on the proposals
The Board and Superintendent receive the Redistricting Committee report at the April 9 meeting, and have scheduled two evenings – April 22 and April 23 – to accept public comment on the proposals. The first public hearing is 6:30-9 p.m., April 22, at North Point High School. The second hearing is 6:30-9 p.m., April 23, at La Plata High School. The Board is limiting speakers to commenting at one of the two hearings in order to maximize speaking opportunities for the highest number of people. Speakers have three minutes to comment. Following the public hearings, the Superintendent will develop recommendations to the Board for each high school based on review of the plans and public comments. The Superintendent can recommend one of the proposals or modified versions. A separate public hearing on the Superintendent's recommendations will be held 6:30-9 p.m., Monday, May 20, at Westlake High School. The Board will take a final vote on the high school redistricting on June 11 at its regular monthly meeting.
Residents may also mail or e-mail comments. E-mail comments to redistrict@ccboe.com or mail to Redistricting, Charles County Public Schools, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646.
Committee Members
The 16-member redistricting committee includes 10 parents, three community members and three school principals. Parent representatives include one from each high school, two from middle schools and two from elementary schools. High schools accepted applications and selected representatives by random drawing. Middle and elementary schools accepted interest from all parents, held a random drawing and each submitted one parent name to the Board of Education. The Board selected two middle and two elementary parent representatives by random drawing during its October meeting. Community members also applied to serve on the committee and were selected by the Board in a random drawing.
Once formed, the committee divided into two independent groups to develop an alternative. The committee members met eight times before submitting their proposals to the Superintendent. The committee first met at the Board's Nov. 5 redistricting information meeting in order to hear community questions and comments.
More information
Maps and more complete descriptions of each proposal are posted on the school system website at www.ccboe.com. Click on the High School Redistricting link under resources.
The school system is mailing a fact sheet outlining the redistricting proposals to parents of ninth and tenth graders and all middle school students. Elementary schools will send the fact sheet home with students the week of April 8.
Board meetings are televised live and aired on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12. The meetings also stream live on the school system website at www.ccboe.com.
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Labels New Schools; Redistricting, Overcrowding Issues, Schedules-School/Transp.
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 4/9/13
The
Board of Education’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, April 9, at the Jesse L.
Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public
portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. and student and staff recognition
starts at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon
FiOS Channel 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. The meeting is also
streamed live on the Charles County Public Schools Web site. Visit http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/ to
watch the meeting.
Executive session – 12 p.m.
- Correspondence/Board Member updates
- Education Association of Charles County update
- Student Board Member update
- Policy #6000 - Instruction
- Sadlier grammar workshop and SpringBoard reading and mathematics
- Library media program
- Legislative update
- Cell phone rule
- Approval of new
superintendent contract
- Redistricting proposals
Recognition – 4:30 p.m.
- Students
- Employees
- Resolutions: Teacher
Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals Week; Child Nutrition
Employee Appreciation Week; and National Physical Education and
Sports Week.
- Minutes
- Personnel
- 2014-15 calendar
- Revision of student transfer
rule #5126
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Labels Meetings; Agendas; Notes
Friday, March 29, 2013
School Allocation Subcommittee Documents from 3/27/13
Please see the below links for documents distributed at the March 27th meeting. I'm still waiting on two more of the presentations (the one presented by Mr. Groth and the list of Allocations recorded but not yet built) and will update this post with those documents once received...stay tuned.
If you have questions on these, please let me know.
Financial Analysis
School Allocation Expiration List
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Labels Budget/Finance, Meetings; Agendas; Notes, New Schools; Redistricting
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Public Forum on The School Allocation Process and School Funding
Come let your voice be heard.
The School Allocation Committee has has been meeting and discussing all the current revenue streams and allocation processes for school construction and school seats. (Excise Tax, DRRA's, etc.) We are looking for YOUR input and collaboration on solutions for funding the costs of construction not reimbursed by the State, and funding for the operation and other additional costs associated with opening a new school. Please join us and be part of the process and the solution.
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Labels Budget/Finance, Meetings; Agendas; Notes, New Schools; Redistricting
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
School Adequate Public Facilities Program & Funding Review Committee Agenda, 3/27/13
The School Adequate Public Facilities Program & Funding Review Committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow evening, Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. in the Charles County Commissioners Meeting room at the Charles County Governement Building. The meeting is open to the public. The agenda is open to the public. The agenda is listed below. The DRAFT Work Plan can be found HERE.
Update on the April 10 Public Information Meeting
Review Revised Work Plan
Discuss the Approach to Problem Analysis and Solution Development
- Committee Identifies the Issue or Problem
- Committee/staff identify potential alternatives
- Staff prepares an analysis of the alternatives
- Committee evaluates and selects the preferred alternative
- Power Point Outlining the School APF Program
- Outstanding Allocations and Expiration Dates
- Review of the Potential Future Impact from Development
- Use and Occupancy Permit History
- Enrollment Projections
- School Needs Analysis (Step Charts)
- School Maps
- Explanation of St. Charles APF Mitigation by Proffering School Sites
- Commitment of School Allocations based on Mutual Agreements
- Historic Use of School Allocations by St. Charles
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Jennifer Abell
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Labels Budget/Finance, Meetings; Agendas; Notes, New Schools; Redistricting
School Adequate Public Facilities Program and Funding Review Committee DRAFT Work Plan
School Adequate Public Facilities Program and Funding Review Committee
DRAFT
Work Plan
3 Citizen Members
2 Building Industry Members
Staff Representation
- Director of Planning and Growth Management
- Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services
- County Attorney
- Board of Education Staff (Recommended by the BOE)
Posted by
Jennifer Abell
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Labels Budget/Finance, Meetings; Agendas; Notes, New Schools; Redistricting
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 3/12/13
The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, March 12 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.
The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.
Executive session – 12 p.m.
Revision of student transfer rule #5126 - see report
Future Agenda items
Recognition - 4:30 p.m.
- Students - Keara Woodland, 5th grade Personal Responsibility, William Diggs Elementary School, Principal: Sandra Taylor; Kritchanan Yampai, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, JP Ryon Elementary School, Principal: Robert Opiekun; Cayla Riddick, 8th grade, Academic Achievement, General Smallwood Middle School, Principal: Kathy Perriello; Rickee White, 12th grade, Career Readiness, Thomas Stone High School, Principal: Michael Meiser
- Employee - Sarah Milman, kindergarten teacher, Diggs; Alexis Howell, teacher, Ryon; Van Conner, pupil personnel worker, Smallwood; Cynthia Harrison, pupil personnel worker, Stone
- Resolutions: Month of the Young Child and National Student Leadership Week
- Marshall Oliver - Consider allowing families that are slotted for redistricting be permitted to enroll in new school prior to Aug 2014
- Ms. Marki - Berry Elementary- scheduling of special classes; 6 day rotation of art, music, and gym, one teacher to 900 students; volunteering for unpaid position with 2 other parents
- Andrea Anderson - Berry Elementary - read goals of CCPS; wants an answer to petition sent.
Action items
- Minutes Executive Session 2/12/13
- Minutes Regular Session 2/12/13
- Minutes Joint Commissioner Meeting 3/5/13
- Personnel
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Superintendent Search Narrowed
The Board of Education of Charles County has narrowed its field of
superintendent candidates to three. Finalists are Kimberly Hill of Charles
County Public Schools, Jeanice Swift of Colorado Springs School District 11, and
Carey Wright of District of Columbia Public Schools.
The Board is selecting a new Superintendent of Schools to replace long-time
Superintendent James E. Richmond, who has announced he is leaving at the end of
the 2012-13 school year.
KIMBERLY HILL TITLE: Principal, Charles County Public Schools, North Point High School for Science, Technology and Industry, Waldorf, Md.
EXPERIENCE: Principal, North Point High School for Science, Technology and Industry, Charles County Public Schools, Md., 2007-present; Vice Principal, North Point High School, 2005-2007; Coordinator, Charles County Career and Technology Center, Charles County Public Schools, 1998-2005; Vice Principal, Maurice J. McDonough High School, Charles County Public Schools, 1993-1998; Social Studies Teacher, Maurice J. McDonough High School, 1986-1993.
EDUCATION: Ms. Hill earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from High Point University in North Carolina, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
JEANICE KERR SWIFTTITLE: Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Curriculum, and Student Services, Colorado Springs School District 11
EXPERIENCE: Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Curriculum and Student Services, Colorado Springs School District 11, July 2011-present; Executive Director, K-12 Schools, Colorado Springs School District 11, 2009-2011; Principal, Charles M. Russell Middle School of the Performing Arts and Science, Colorado Springs School District 11, 2004-2009; Assistant Principal, Charles M. Russell Middle School, Colorado Springs School District 11, 2002-2004; Literacy Resource Teacher Coach, Jenkins Middle School, Colorado Springs School District 11, 2001-2002; Middle School English Teacher, North Middle School and Jenkins Middle School, Colorado Springs School District 11, 1998-2001; High School and Junior High Teacher, English and Spanish, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District, Bedford, Texas, 1984-1991, 1995-1998.
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Friday, March 08, 2013
School Adequate Public Facilities Program and Funding Review Committee
Is looking forward to beginning my work on this committee which will begin Wednesday evening, March 13th at 6:00 p.m. in the commissioners meeting room atthe Charles County Government Building and is open to the public.
Mission
The Committee shall evaluate the County’s approach to ensuring adequate public facilities for schools in the development approval process to determine if the current policy is achieving the stated goals. The Committee should also develop solutions for addressing the timing of providing adequate school facilities to match the planned growth in the County. The Committee should work with designated staff to explore the feasibility and make recommendations on the best method to work through the issues related to school redistricting, school capacity allocation, and the timing and methods of school funding and construction.
(Althought i have an issue with the redistricting statement in here)
Contact
Planning and Growth Management, Jason Groth 301-645-0689
Members (i guess Pam & I got stripped of our titles)
| Jennifer Abell | Regular |
| Reuben Collins, II | County Commissioner |
| Rosemin Daya | Regular |
| Jason Groth | Charles County Government Staff |
| Glenda Harrison | Regular |
| John Hayes | Regular |
| Candice Kelly | County Commissioner |
| James Lorenzi | Regular |
| Doug Meeker | Regular |
| Pamela Pedersen | Regular |
| Sarah Sandy | Charles County Government Staff |
Agenda for 3.13
Committee Member Introduction
Administrative
Bill 2011-08, Code of Ethics
- Copy to be provided to all Committee Members
- Brief Review
- Copy to be provided to all Committee Members
- Brief Review
- Copy to be provided to all Committee Members
- Oath Taking
- Certificate handout
- All members of the Committee must sign and return to Sarah by the end of the meeting.
- Nominations
- Voting
Overview of the Purpose of the Committee
Review Meeting Dates and Frequency
Discuss/Establish Public Participation Policy
Review Draft Work Plan and refine
Brief Review of School Allocation Program and Policies
Brief Review of DRRA Mitigation Program and Policies
Status of 2014 School CIP for new School Capacity
School Redistricting Policy
Identification of Additional Issues
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Labels Meetings; Agendas; Notes
Board of Education & Commissioner APFO Joint Straetgy Session, 3/5/13
Here is a link to a video of the meeting that took place.
[10:30 a.m.] Joint Meeting with Charles County Board of Education - Winter 2013 School Allocation Cycle (Mr. Peter Aluotto, Director of Planning & Growth Management/Charles County Public Schools & Board of Education)
School Allocations Presentation
No action was taken pending further information requested by Abell on allocations awarded but yet to be developed.
[11:30 a.m.] Strategic Planning Session w/ Charles County Board of Education (Government Building Conference Room)
Letter from BOE Wise
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Labels Meetings; Agendas; Notes
REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 3/12/13
The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, March 12, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. and student and staff recognition starts at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. The meeting is also streamed live on the Charles County Public Schools website. Visit http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/ to watch the meeting.
Executive session – 12 p.m. Call to order – 1 p.m.- Pledge of Allegiance, Henry E. Lackey High School's JROTC unit Superintendent's update Reports of officers/boards/committees
- Correspondence/Board Member updates
- Education Association of Charles County update
- Student Board Member update
- Student Services update
- CIP update
- Telepresence
- Policy #6000
- Sadlier Grammar Workshop and SpringBoard reading and mathematics
- Budget update
- School year 2014-15 calendar
- Legislative update
- Revision of student transfer rule #5126
New business and future agenda items
- New business
- Future agenda items
- Students
- Employees
- Resolutions: Month of the Young Child and National Student Leadership Week
Action items
- Minutes
- Personnel
Posted by
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Labels Meetings; Agendas; Notes
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 2/12/13
The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, February 12 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.
The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.
Executive session – 12 p.m.
Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, Westlake High School's JROTC unit
Superintendent's update - See Report
Correspondence/Board Member updates
- Bowie - Governor visit at library story time. 4 year old that could recite all the presidents and told him HE was going to be president.
- Bowie - Summer Reading List
- Pedersen - North Point Student to Student Program - work with military families to become aclimated to new school environment
- Lukas - County Chess Tournament; thanks to Mr. Cummings
- Lukas - Stone recognition for principals honors
- Wise - Annaplois to ask for $ for system
Student Board Member update - See report
CIP update - See report
Teacher Evaluation - See report; rejected by state with no explanantion; assume for state testing percentage.
SY 2014-2015 calendar - see proposed calendar
- Abell - 3 week cluster from MLK holiday to mid February has several days off. Need to reevaluate?
- Pedersen - suggests adding to student handbook
- currently increased to 796 from 618 last year and still rising
- we're not unique in the numbers across the state
- unique in 9 year wait for Section 8; no transitional housing
- we are providing everything we can to these students; confidentiality is at the highest
- last year we had a $35,000 grant; this year we have a $33,000 grant to help cover all misc costs for these students.
- Currently transporting 15 students from PG county (per law)
- numerous bills being submitted on school safety that we would oppose based on unfunded mandated
- also on Open Meetings Act with personal monetary violations to the perpetrator
- Special Education claims...whomever brings the claim has the burden of proof...new bill shifts the burden of proof to the Board of Education in all cases SB691
- Teacher Evaluations
- Representation fee by teachers who chose not to join the union
- March 5th, MABE Legislation Luncheon
- Bowie - EReader devices in the classrooms
- Richmond - working on it
Future agenda items
- Abell - Review Cell Phone Policy
- Lukas - regurgitated on the transfer policy
- Students: Jackson Tross, 5th grade, Personal Responsibility, Berry Elementary School, Principal: Marvin Jones; Jacob Waddell, 5th grade, Career Readiness, Eva Turner Elementary School, Principal: Stephanie Nottingham; Conner Smith, 8th grade, Academic Achievement, Matthew Henson Middle School, Principal: Sonia Jones; Liam Vienneau, 8th grade, Academic Achievement, Piccowaxen Middle School, Principal: Kenneth Schroeck; John (Jake) Bayer, 12th grade, Academic Achievement, La Plata High School, Principal: Evelyn Arnold
- Employees: Lenora Green, special education teacher, Berry; Nicholas Adam, special education teacher, Turner; Caitlin Sinclair, mathematics teacher, Piccowaxen; Linda Adgate, job placement coordinator, La Plata; Lakeisha Webster, Stay Program instructional assistant, F.B. Gwynn Center, Principal: Thomas Weirich
- Resolutions: Read Across Charles County; Women's History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month
- John Hayes - resident of the county for 23 years; redistricting; Davis students went to Henson; now Hensen is 56 students over capacity; commissioners just approved 156 homes in Henson zone.....gave more numbers just approved by commissioners via DRRA.
- Roseman Diaz - redistricting. Davis to Henson. Amazing staff at Henson. commissioners approved DRRA's today. says BOE told government they have room
- Robert Harlan - watched school board for the last 7 years. Impressed with student board member Ms. Adeleke. St. Charles High School, doing it for the students. kids are asking for the pool but upset that the parents, homeowners, developers, business owners, etc aren't asking for a pool.
- Minutes
- Personnel
- Policy #3514 – green product cleaning supplies
See report
Posted by
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Labels Meetings; Agendas; Notes
Friday, February 08, 2013
REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 2/12/13
The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 12, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. and student and staff recognition starts at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. The meeting is also streamed live on the Charles County Public Schools website. Visit http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/ to watch the meeting.
Executive session – 12 p.m. Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, Westlake High School's JROTC unit Superintendent's update Reports of officers/boards/committees
- Presentation by Wells Fargo on the Classified Retirement Plan
- Correspondence/Board Member updates
- Education Association of Charles County update
- Student Board Member update
- CIP update
- SY 2014-2015 calendar
- Revisions of student transfer rule
- Legislative update
New business and future agenda items
- New business
- Future agenda items
- Students
- Employees
- Resolutions: Read Across Charles County; Women's History Month; and Fine and Performing Arts Month
Action items
- Minutes
- Personnel
- Policy #3514 – green product cleaning supplies
Posted by
Jennifer Abell
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7:21 AM
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Labels Meetings; Agendas; Notes



